Johnny Ray was sitting in his office in the back of The Boom Boom Room his feet kicked up on his desk smoking a cigarette reading the funny papers. His glass half full of scotch as he reaches over downing the last drink. He hears a knock on the office door.

"Come in..."

He looks over his paper to see Father O'Leary come in. Johnny quickly drops his feet standing up greeting The Father with a hand shake. Father O'Leary was the priest at the 52nd st church. He sits down in front of Johnnys dezk as Johnny leans against the desk.

"what can I do for you father?"

Father: "Well Johnny I have a favor to ask....if I may"

"Sure go ahead anything for the church"

Father O'Leary tells Johnny he's being strong armed by a group of thugs working for a big shot uptown. They want him to start paying protection money to stay in service. Johnny was none too happy to hear this, O'Leary said he refused to go to the cops cause he doesn't want them to get retribution on him if anything happened. He doesn't know the big shots name but he was sure Johnny would. Johnny agreed to take on the job and would make sure nothing backfired onto Father O'Leary or the church.

A few days later Johnny had made some calls to figure out who was strong arming Father O'Leary. He found out it was a few guys working for Tommy and Nicky, The Baracci Brothers. They had a few nickel and dime shops and a club called The Swan Song uptown about two blocks from The 59th st ApRtments Johnny owned. Tommy and Nicky grew up in The Bronx and just cause they made it uptown didn't mean they got any more class. Johnny came into the game with Tommy the older brother, he was the hot head but was a bit more intelligent whereas Nicky was calm but had the sense of a box of hammers. 

Johnny knew if he went asking questions The Brothers would know Father O'Leary had came to him so he had to get a different route. He knew if he ran into them they'd wanna drink he could gather a plan that way. Johnny went outside getting in his car and drove uptown towards the club they owned. Once he got about a block away he figured he'd park and walk so it'd look like he was just in the neighborhood. About a block away from The Swan Song he parked and got out fixing his tie and putting his hat on. He bolstered a gun in his shoulder holster...just in case. He starts towards the club lighting a cigarette inhaling deeply before exhaling smoke slowly into the air.

Doorman: "Enjoy The Swan Song sir"

"Thanks I'll try"

The doorman opens the door for Johnny as he walks inside. Johnny looked around and spots Nicky at the bar. Johnny exhales deeply as he heads through the crowd towards the bar. Once at the bar he slides over behind Nicky.

Johnny: "Okay you must you gimme your wallet"

Johnny puts his finger into Nickys back muffling his voice before laughing showing Nicky it was him. Nicky turns and laughs a bit as he shakes Johnnys hand.

Nicky: "Heya Johnny Boy long time no see. Hey hey Tommy look who found his way uptown!"

Tommy comes out from a back room as he sees Johnny he gets a big smile shaking Johnnys hand. Tommy sits next to Nicky and the three begin talking about what's been going on since they'd seen eachother last. Tommy tells Johnny he had taken over for Sal, their uncle, and had been running new guys left and right. Nicky said he was running The Swan Song and booking for a few Families. Johnny told them he owned a few spots and was working more legit money. The three drank all night talking...

3a.m. rolled around and Tommy and Nicky were staggering drunk. Johnny had tried to pace himself but he was a bit drunk as Well. Johnny had almost forgot why he was there to begin with. He muttered how he was hungry and Tommy suggested going to a cafe for breakfast. He said he knew a diner open all night a few blocks from there. The other two agreed and the three straightened themselves a bit and headed out of the club. 

To Be Continued...